Folding bed.



CVR. KLOK. FOLDING BED.

N 'FILED R. 3l, i913.

' Patented June 25, 1918.

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C. R.KLOK.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. al. |913 Patented June 25, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. R. KLOK. FOLDING BED. y

PLI ATION FILED MAB. 3l 1913 Patented Jun@ 25, 1918.

IMLMMIIT CARL R. KLOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED TABLE-BED COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BED.

Specincaton of Letters Patent.

Patented I une 25, timid..

Application led March 31, 1913. Serial No. 757,784.

.To all 'whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, CARL R. KLOK, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county,lllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Beds, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to folding beds in general, but more particularly to those which are combined `with another piece of furniture, and especially beds of this kind which are combined with a table.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a novel andv highly eiicient folding bed of the foregoing general character.

A special object is to provide a novel and eiiicient construction whereby the folding bed, with the mattress and bedding, is concealed in the upper portion of the table body, which forms the head or foot of the bed when the latter is unfolded., and within which one end of the bed is supported in. fixed position.

Another Objectis to provide a novel construct-ion whereby the folding bed, with the mattress and bedding, is arranged to fold into a concealed position below a table top disposed at a height suitable forfa person seated in front thereof, and withclearance for the knees of said person below the bed, whereby the provision of the bed does not interfere in any way with the use of the structure as an ordinary library or writing table, nor objectionably alter the .shape or design thereof, so far as the appearance of being merely a table is concerned, it being understood that my object in this respect is to avoid as much as possible the use of anything `suggestive of the presence of a bed y within the table. y y

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction tending to increase the general eiiiciency of a-folding bed of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective of a bed table embodying the principles of my invention, showing the same folded and in use as a table.

Fig. 2 a perspective of the saine unfolded and in condition for use as a bed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the table shown in Fig. l, the section being taken between the ends of the table.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but with the section taken on a line immediately inside of the end of the table, whereby the bed mechanisrnis shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section on I Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of one of i the joints of the bed frame.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, showing the bed unfolded.`

Fig. 11 isa section on line ll-ll in Fig. 9,

As thus illustrated, my invention involves a table body A comprising fixed ends a, the fixed side a', the top sections c2 and a3, the movable side at, the fixed legs a5, and the connecting shelf a6, the design being that of an ordinary library or writing table. The section as? is provided on its under side with angle iron cleats a7 which are connected by pivoted links as with the table body, whereby the table top and side at are foldable into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 10, the sections a? and c3 being hinged together so that the latter folds on top of the former, `the side c4 being hinged to fold against the inner surface of the section a3, when the latter is sections b and b2, the three sections being of angle iron and pivotally connected together by short sections b3 and b4, the relative formation of said sections preventing the bed frame thus fo-rmed from flexing downward beyond a straight line, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, but permitting the bed to be foldedV and practically rolled up in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The roll or bundle thus formed is above or higher than the bed, obviously, so that the storage position of the bed is higher than the extended portion thereof when in use, and this extended position is in a plane approximately at the ordinary seating height, whereby the bed-frame is capable of use as a seat when unfolded but not when folded. The length of the bundle is, of course, the same as the width of the bed, but the width of the bundle is only approximately one-third of the length of the bed. A metallic fabric 55 is stretched on :theframe thus provided, and legs 56 and 57 are pivoted on the sections 5 and 52, respectively, the legs 56 having their upper ends connected by the pivoted links 58 with the sections 53, and the upper ends of the legs 57 being connected by the pivoted links 59 with the sections 5, whereby the legs automatically fold upon the sides of the bed frame when the latter is folded, in the manner shown in Fig. t. The legs 56 are connected by a bar 519, andthe legs57 are connected by a bar 511, which bars rest on the sectionsv 5 and 52 when the bed is folded .-,thetopcf the table higher than is :proper Within the table. The sections 53 and 54 serve tospace the sections 5, 5 and 52 apart sufficiently to giveroom `for the bedding, a mattress C being employed on the said metallic fabric.

Vith the foregoing construction I am enabled to provide a table bed in which the bottom of the bed .is high enough to Aprovide knee clearance below, without raising for a person sitting in front thereof. The table does not, in appearance, depart materially from the usual and ordinary designs, and is intended to conceal the bed without .the necessity of employing features of construction which would tend to :make the structure look like something more than an ordinary library or Writing table; and, as stated, the use of the table `isnot vin any way interfered with, as it has the requisite yknee space below the-bottom of the bed, and is, at the same time, not higher than is permissible for a writing .or reading table, whichis broadly new with me, so far as I am now aware.

To keep the frame from spreading, the sections 53 are connected by a swiveled bar D, provided with pivots d, and the sections 5.areA connectedby a similarbar E, both Vbarsbeing dropped at the middle to give clearance forv the fabric. rllhe links or sections 5f are pivotedat d and cl2., to and insideofthe sections5 andf5 andthe sections 5^# aresimilar.

Thefrontside a4 .has end .portions F which aresections of :the @fronttable-.legs and which rest lonshoulders ff on theleg-s a?, when the rbed 'isflfolded and thetQpis down, which portions preserve thecontinuity of the legs,

. andappear tobe avfpart thereof. Also, it

will V.be seen that the angle ,bars fused in .the constructiono'fthe sections of thebed frame have upstandingvertical vflanges, (seeFigs. 9.andl1) and thatl the mattress is disposed i vbetweenthese Hanges, the metal fabric being secured to the lower or horizontal flanges `upwardly but not downwardly, being held rigidly in a horizontal plane by its own stiliness, because of the overlapping of the short sections on the long sections. With the vertical flanges of the sections extending toward each other when the frame is folded, a bundle of less thickness or height is obtained than would be the case with the said angle bars turned over, as in the latter case the lianges would extend downward and upward beyond the top and bottom surfaces of said bundles, and thus take up more room in the table.

As stated, the head section of the bed frame is liXed in the table body, and wit-h the arrangement shown it is also held absolutely against movement relative to said table body; but I do not limit myself to the particular construction shown and described, as various changes may be made, obviously, without departing from the spirit of my invention. As shown, the legs a. are cut away inside the body to form shoulders G for the ends of the strips g which form the lower portions of the end walls a of the body. The frame section 5 is rigidly secured to these strips, and thus clearance is provided inside the body for the legs of the bed-frame. With this arrangement the two end sections 5 and 52 are always right side up whether the bed is folded or unfolded. Thesection 5 supports the entire bed frame within the table body.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in a practical table-bed embodying the principles of my invention, the bed frame must fold over twice in order to get the same into a table of ordinary proportions, such as an oblong library table, and in order to have the table and bed stand at right angles to each other, whereby the length of the table and not the width thereof determines the width of the bed. It being also essential that as few folding operations be involved as possible,one end section of the frame is preferably fixed in the table body, whereby the sections 5 and 52 of the bed frame are both right side up whether the bed is folded or unfolded. In order to properly support the bed Within the table-body, and in order to provide clearance for the folding legs 5 and 57 and their controlling links 5S and 5, the table legs a5 are recessed inside the body to form shoulders Gr, and spacing strips or side strips g are secured to the sides of the bed frame and supported upon these shoulders, these strips being in effect a part of the end walls of the table body. With this construction and arrangement, the bed frame folds over twice in order yto reduce to the proper size for inclosure in the table body, but these are the only folding operations involved, so far as the bed frame itself is concerned, inasmuch as this frame is not disturbed or moved again after the second folding operation which brings the section b2 right side up within the table.

With the construction shown and described, the intermediate or middle section of the bed-frame is left free and clear at the sides thereof whereby this section is available for use as a seat in entering and leaving the bed in the ordinary and natural manner, which is an important and essential requirement for a perfect bed. This, it will be seen, is because the end-walls a; extend only to the joint betweenv the fixed head-section b and the folding middle section ZJ', whereby the desired clearance is afforded at both sides of the middle section of the bed. Furthermore, it will be seen that the bedframe is foldable while the head-section 5 remains in fixed and stationary position, whereby the folding and unfolding of the three-section bed-frame is accomplished in the `desired manner and for the purpose `described in a structure in which one end-section always remains at a xed height from the floor. Again, it will be seen that the swiveled cross-bar D not only connects together the two sides of the foldable portion of the bed-frame, but also serves through the medium of said frame to hold the front ends of the end-walls a a fixed distance apart, the table-body thus depending and relying for its rigidity to a considerable extent upon the stiffness and rigidity of the bed-frame.`

By maintaining the frame section permanently right-side-up, so that it is neverl turnedvup-side-down, the structure becomes an article of furniture, in this case a library table, when the rectangular bundle composed o-f three superimposed layers, and with its top still uppermost, is inclosed therein. In other words, the immediate result, or practically so, of the inclosure of the three-layer bundle in a position rightsideup within the bed structure is a table. The flexible mattress support, such as the metal fabric b5, extends over the mattress at the top of the rectangular bundle which is constructed from the head and foot and middle sections of the frame and when the bundle is thus inclosed with its said top uppermost the structure becomes a useful article of furniture, preferably a table.

A, It will beseen that the bed-frame B is structurally distinct from the table-body A, the said body being in itself a complete article of furniture. In other words, the said bed-frame could be omitted, and still the body A could have the shape and construction essential for a table. Of course, the bed-frame when fastened inside of the table contributes some strength thereto, especially across the front of the table through the medium of the spreader D, but notwithstanding this the table-body is practically complete in itself and has the form and appearance of a complete table, even should the angle-iron bed-frame be omitted. Furthermore, being a table, the said body A is of a shape and construction to preclude the use of the structure as a seat except when the frame is unfolded. When the bedframe is unfolded, the middle section thereof is then available at opposite sides as a seat, but when the bed is folded the structure formed by the bed-frame and table-body is then, of course, incapable of use either as ay bed 0r a seat-that is to say, the structure resulting from the folding of the bed is neither designed nor adapted nor intended for use either as a bed or seat. Again, it will be seen that the combinations and constructions employed make it possible to have they bed-frame, when unfolded, disposed at a proper height, which is ordinarily called sitting height, being about the same height as an ordinary chair or couch; and this is accomplished without in any/way interfering with or detracting from the essential requirements of the article of furniture which the structure becomes when the bed is .foldedi In other words, by the combinations and constructions employed, the bed-frame is a proper and satisfactory height from the floor, both when folded and unfolded, inasmuch as for table purposes the top of the bed frame is permissibly and desirably higher when in folded condition, and is desirably lower when unfolded and in use as a bed or seat. Thus neither purpose conflicts with the other, and the frame folds and unfolds in a way that brings about a nsatisfactory result in each case, notwithstanding that one section of the bed-frame is maintained right side up at a fixed height from the fioor and is thereby held stationary during the folding and unfolding of the frame.

Obviously, therefore, my invention should not be confused or confounded with soi-called davenports, or with divans and sofa beds, for my invention is entirely different from these things, andV is not adapted for any such purpose, inasmuch as my invention contem plates a method of mounting and operating a three-section bed-frame, having links or short sections between the three long sections, which entirely precludes the use of the structure as a seat when the bed is folded. For with the method shown and described, and in order to have a bed of correct height, the bedframe is necessarily higher when folded than when unfolded, and when thus folded is much too high for use as a seat. But at this height the folded frame is'at just the right height for the top portion of a table, or of any structure or article of fur#A niture which is necessarily or desirably frame is supported in such position that the frame will be amply `high enough with a comparatively thin and vliexible mattressand will not be too low for a bed. Thus, thefthird ysection of the frame, although heldiinfixed position, is exactly or substantially at the right height for both purposes, a-sit is high enough to give the required .clearance 'below when the structure is in use asV a table, .and is also highenoug'hto provide a bed-practically of. standard or of the ordinary height when employed with a comparatively thin mattress which will fold up readily with the frame.

It will also be seen Athat with vthelconstruction shown and described, involving a bed-frame composed of three sections, with links or short sections between, the table can be of door-width size,.so that it can be easily pushed throughl an ordinary doorway.

WV hat 1 claim as my -inventionI is 1. A folding bedfcomprisin-ga body which in itself is acomplete article of furniture, a three-section transversely folding -bedframe whereof the inner end-section is always right-side-up and horizontal, having devices intermediate the head .and foot -.of the bed to connect the sections-together., means on said body to support the said Ypermanently right-side-up inner end-section a xe'dheight from the floor, serving -to hold the inner end-section stationary within saidl body while theother sections are being Y-folded thereon to bring the outer end-section right-side-up below the inverted middle ysection, folding legs coperating with said body to support the frame/at a height which will be sufficient for a bed of ordinary height with a mattress of a thickness to fold readily with the frame, the middle section :being entirely outside Lof said body when vthe bed is unfolded, thereby to permit use of said middle section as a seat for entering .and leaving the bed, andnmeans on said frame to support the mattress, said sections'bein,g

each approximately one-third the length of the bed, the outer end-section and the middle section being supported-entirely by and horizontally above said inner end-section when the bed is folded, and said body being of a shape and construction to preclude use thereof either as a bedor a seat when the sections are folded together and having means to entirely lconceal the bed frame therein;

2.. .A table-bed comprising :an oblong and rectangular table-body which in itself is a complete article of furniture, having side and lend and top Walls and fixed legs at the four corners thereof, forming a chamber which is open at the bottom, a three-section folding bed-frame, the sections being each approximately one-third thc length of the bed, having vdevices to connect `the sections together, means on said end Walls vto support the head-section inli-Xed position at the open bottom of said chamber, "legs for the middle and `foot sections, foldable withsaid frame and-a mattress to a concealed position Within said chamber, means .on said frame to support the mattress, said end-Walls extend-ing only to the joint between the head-section and the .middle section., thereby lto permit use vof lsaid middle section as a seat for entering-and leaving the bed, said foot-section being supported entirely by and horizontally above said head-section when said body is in use as a table, said top-wall and the front side-Wall `being movable Ito permit unfolding of the bed, and a member on the foldable por-tion of said frame to connect the sides lthereof and thereby hold the front ends of said end-walls a fixed distance apart, said member being disposed outside of said body While the bed frame is unfolded and immediately inside of said front-wall when the table is closed.

3. In an article of furniture of the class described, a table embodying a single side wall and end walls connected to and extending at right-angles therefrom, thereby leaving one side of the table open, a sectional folding bed-framefhaving one section thereof fixed to said end walls against vertical rmoveinent, and a member yon .a section of said bed-frame which lies outside the table body when the bed-frame is unfolded and inside the table body when the bed-frame is folded thereinto, and in each position serves to connect the free ends of said end walls together and thus prevent spreading thereof.

t. In a folding bed, the combination of (l) a bed-frame provided with a flexible mattress support,said frame including end and intermediate sections, the end sections forming the head and foot of the bed, and all ofthe sections being pivotally connected to fold together and form with the mattress and bedding a Arectangular bundle consisting of a flat-tened roll wherein one end section is disposed between an intermediate section and the other end section, with the sides ofthe bed forming the ends of the roll, so that-saidbundle in length is substantially the sameas the transverse dimension of the bed and in width is approximately one-third of the length of the bed, whereby the head and foot and middle ysections are brought together and superimposed in substantially horizontal layers by the folding of said frame, and With a portion of said flexible support overlying the mattress at the top of said bundle; (2) a structure for supporting and inclosing said bundle for storage therein, adapted to prevent use of said frame as a seat except When the sections thereof are unfolded, having means for maintaining one of said sections permanently right-side up foil a mattress thin enough to fold With the frame and to receive thereon the other sections and .form the lower portion of said bundle when the bed is completely folded, thereby to sustain the entire Weight of said bundle at the bottom thereof, and also to support a portion of the bed When said frame is unfolded, serving to hold said one section horizontal during the unfolding of the other sections, said structure in itself forming an article of furniture which precludes use thereof either as a bed or a seat when said three-layer bundle With its said top uppermost is finally inclosed therein; and (3) folding legs for said bedframe, cooperating vvith said means to support the bed-frame in a plane lower than the storage position of said bundle and approximately at the ordinary seating height when the bed is in position for use.

5. In an article of furniture of the lclass described, a table embodying a rigid side wall and end Walls connected to and extending at rigl'it-angles therefrom and having a movable top and side Wall, thereby leaving one side of the table open, a sectional transversely folding bed-frame supported by said table and connected to said end Walls, adapted to fold and unfold through the open side of the table When the top is open, and a member on a folding sectionl of said bedframe to connect together the sides of the frame and hold the front ends of said end Walls a fixed distance apart, said frame and member When entirely folded being concealed when the table is closed.

6. The folding bed structure, as set forth in claim 4, in which said permanently rightside-up section is held at a fixed height sufficient for an ordinary bed, and in which said legs fold automatically into positionabove said permanently right-side-up section to form part of the ends of said bundle.

7. The folding bed structure, as set forth in claim il, in which said frame has a transverse spreader on the folding portion thereof in position to partly form the front of said bundle, and said structure having a rectangular table top and fixed legs at the four corners thereof, the front table legs being unconnected across the front of the table when said frame is unfolded except through the medium of said spreader Which is then immediately outside of said table.

8. The folding bed structure, as set forth in claim l, in Which said permanently rightside-up section forms one end of the frame, andl said article of furniture being of a size and shape to permit use of the middle section of the frame as a seat in entering and leaving the bed.

9. The folding bed structure, as set forth in claim 4, in Which said permanently rightside-up section is rigidly secured and fixed against movement in said structure, and said article of furniture being of a size and shape to contain said bundle and permit use of either side of the middle section of said frame as a seat When the bed is unfolded.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 27th day of March, 1913.

CARL R. KLUK.

Witnesses:

JT. Nomar, E. H. Umea.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Patente,

Washington, D. C.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that the State of incorporation of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,270,528, granted June 25, 1918, upon the application of Carl R. Klok, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in Folding Beds, was erroneously given as Illinoisf7 Whereas said State should have been given as Virgin/ia, as shown by the records of assignments in this oice; and that the said. Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform' to the record of the cese in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of October, A. D., 1923.

[SEAL] KARL FEDTDTITTG,4

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

